Machine for making and applying reinforcing patches to ring book sheets



Feb. 25, 1964 G. c. LUTHER I 3,122,057

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING REINFORCING PATCHES TO RING BOOK SHEETS Filed April 21, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. G1. ENN C. L UTHER ywww ATTaR'NEKs' G. C. LUTHER MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING REINFORCING Feb. 25, 1964 PATCHES T0 RING BOOK SHEETS Filed April 21, 1961 5 Shets-Sheet 2 i i i 1 a 5 a w QM? T N m H mm w WW A w m Feb. 25, 1964 s. c. LUTHER 3,122,057

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING REINFORCING PATCHES TO RING BOOK SHEETS Filed April 21, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GLENN C. LUTHER ATTORNEYS Feb. 25, 1964 c; c. LUTHER 3,122,067-

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING REINFORCING PATCHES TO RING BOOK SHEETS Filed April 21, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-.5

IN VEN TOR. GL EA/N C. L UTHER ATTORNEYJ Feb. 25, 1964 G. c. LUTHER 3,122,057

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING REINFORCING PATCHES TORING BOOK SHEETS Filed April 21, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GLENN C. LUTHER ATTORNEYJ United States Patent 3,122,667 MACHINE FGR MAKING AND APPLYING REIN- FGIZCING PATCHES Ti) RING BQOK SHEETS Glenn C. Luther, 6606 Camden Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Apr. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 104,570 9 Ciaims. (C1. 93-1) This invention relates to new and useful improveinents in machines for applying reinforcing patches or washers to loose-leaf binder sheets to prevent the sheets from tearing at the rings of the loose-leaf binder.

It is well known that the pages or sheets for looseleaf binders are retained in the binder by two or more rings constituting a part of the binder. It is customary to reinforce the apertures in the marginal edges of the ring book sheets to prevent tearing, when an abnormal pull is accidentally exerted thereon. Such reinforcing may be accomplished in various ways as, for example, by manually adhering a perforated paper or fabric washer or disk to the sheet in alignment with each hole provided therein. Such paper or fabric patches are rather bulky, and hence are not desirable. In other cases, an elongated strip of plastic pressure sensitive reinforcing tape has been adhered to the marginal edge of each ring book sheet the length of the sheet, after which the sheet and reinforcing strip are perforated to receive the usual retaining rings of the binder.

The above methods of reinforcing the apertures in the marginal edge portions of ring book sheets are time consuming, and hence are relatively expensive. It is therefore highly desirable that means he provided for expeditiously and economically reinforcing the apertures in conventional ring book sheets whereby such reinforcing may be accomplished at low cost.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide an apparatus for applying reinforcing patches or disks to ring book sheets, which comprises means for successively blanking the reinforcing patches or disks from an elongated strip of tape having one side coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive; pressing each patch or blank into bonding engagement with the surface of a ring book sheet, and simultaneously piercing each reinforcing patch and the ring book sheet, whereby the operation of blanking and applying reinforcing patches to ring book sheets may be accomplished in a single operation, including the operation of piercing the reinforcing patches and the ring book sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive manually operable desk type machine comprising a punch and die assembly for successively blanking reinforcing patches from a roll of reinforcing tape, such as Mylar, and simultaneously applying each patch to a ring book sheet, and at the same time piercing each patch and the ring book sheet, whereby the reinforcing patches may be accurately applied to the ring book sheets in a highly efficient and expeditious runner and with a minimum of manual labor.

Other objects of the invention reside in the construction of the means for successively feeding the reinforcing tape to the punch and die assembly which successively blanks the reinforcing patches from the tape and presses each patch into intimate bonding engagement with the ring book sheet and simultaneously pierces the patch and the ring book sheet; in the means provided for actuating the blanking and piercing dies; in the unique construction of the blanking punch including the non-metallic annular guide member located at the lower end of the punch, which is constructed of a suitable plastic material having the inherent characteristic of being resistant to adhesives and other foreign matter, said guide mem- "of FIGURE 1, showing the supporting means for the her having a wick supported therein saturated with a silicon lubricant, said annular guide member and lubricant saturated wick cooperating to lubricate and wipe the cutting edges of the blanking punch and its complemental die of foreign matter to prevent adhesives from building up on said cutting edges and ultimately interfering with the blanking operation thereof; in the ratchet means for intermittently feeding the reinforcing tape to the blanking punch and die; in the means for simultaneously winding the perforated or Waste portion of the tape onto a take-up roll; in the specific construction of the blanking and piercing dies and their complemental punches, whereby these parts may be assembled as a unit to facilitate assembly and adjustment of the parts before mounting the die block assembly on its supporting base; and in the unique arrangement of the blanking and piercing punches whereby they may be actuated by manipulation of a single operating member.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been 'disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, 'as various changes may be made within'the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front View of the machine, partially in section, and partially broken away to illustrate the arrangement of the blanking and piercing dies in the die block assembly, and also showing the operating member therefor and the means for actuating the tape take-up roll to intermittently feed the tape to the die block as- 'sembly;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 blanking die;

FIGURE 4 isa sectional elevational view on the line "4-4 of FIGURE 5, showing the supporting means for the tape take-up roll and the ratchet mechanism for intermittently actuatingsaid roll, and alsoshowing the travel path of the tape from the supply roll, through the die block assembly'and onto the takeeup roll; 7

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the operatingmem'ber depressed to actuate the blanking 'andpiercing dies; 7

FIGURE '6 is a-perspective view of'a conventional ring 'book sheet removed from its binder, showing the reinforcingpatches attached thereto;

"FIGURE 7 is an'enlarged detail sectional view on the line 77 of FIGURE6; and v FIGURES is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 8- 8 of FIGURE 2,more clearly showing the guide 'means for the blanking and pi'ercing punches, and the means for preventing adhesives from accumulating onthe periphery of the blanking die.

The machine herein disclosed comprises a supporting base, generally'designated by the'nurneral 2, comprising a horizontal wall 3, a front'wall 4, and rear upright Walls Sand 6, spaced apart as shown in FIGURE 4. The lower edges of the front and rear Walls 4 and 6, respectively, are shown secured to a base plate 7 by suchmeans as screws 3 and 9, shown received in threaded engagement with lugs 11 and 12 provided, respectively, on walls-4 and6.

To avoid excessive bulkiness in loose leaf ring binders 'it is important that the material from which the reinforcing patches or disks used for reinforcing the usual an perforations in the loose-leaf sheets be extremely thin. A

polyester pressure sensitive tape, known in the trade as 1 -material and applying the patches to the loose-leaf binder sheets.

It has been common practice in the past, when using polyester tape as a reinforcement for the perforations in loose-leaf binder sheets, to apply an elongated strip of tape the full length of the edge of each sheet which is to be perforated to receive the rings of the ring binder with a resultant waste of tape. To thus apply an elongated strip of tape to each sheet has not proven entirely satisfactory in the trade because of the increased cost of producing the loose-leaf sheets as a result of the increased quantity of tape required for a given number of sheets.

It is therefore highly desirable that means be provided for successively blanking reinforcing patches or disks from a strip of tape and, in the same operation, firmly pressing each patch into bonding engagement with a loose-leaf binder sheet and simultaneously piercing the patches and the loose-leaf binder sheet, whereby the operation of forming the reinforcing patches and securing them to the binder sheets may be greatly expedited with a resultant saving in cost, and with the assurance the reinforcing patches will be accurately located on their respective loose-leaf binder sheets.

The novel apparatus herein disclosed is capable of thus expeditiously blanking reinforcing patches from a strip of polyester tape and simultaneously piercing and pressing each patch into bonding engagement with a loose-leaf binder sheet.

The apparatus comprises a punch and die assembly best illustrated in FIGURE 8. This assembly includes a plate 13 having a piercing die 14 secured therein. Plate 13 may be secured'to the base plate 7 by such means as screws or bolts 15, shown in FIGURE 3. A blanking hole 16 is shown formed in a die plate 17 which, in turn, is shown seated on plate 13. A supporting block 18 is secured to plates 13 and 17 by suitable screws or bolts, indicated at 19 in FIGURE 3.

A tubular guide sleeve 21 is shown provided at its lower end with an annular outwardly extending flange 22 received in a counterbore 23 provided in the bottom face of block 18. An annular guide member 24 is mounted in a shallow recess 25 in the top surface of plate 17, and has an upstanding peripheral flange 24 extending into the counterbore 23 into engagement with flange 22 of sleeve 21, thereby to secure the sleeve against relative axial movement in block 18. The annular guide member 24 is constructed of a plastic material such as tetrafluoroethylene, sold under the trademark Teflon. Tetrafiuoroethylene is a highly efiicient wear resistant material, and it is highly resistant to adhesives and moisture.

The upper face of guide member 24 is recessed to receive an annular wick or felt packing 26 impregnated with a suitable lubricant such as silicon. Guide member 24 has a shallow recess or guideway 27 extending across its bottom face lengthwise of the tape travel for accurately guiding the tape between the blanking die 17 and the blanking punch 28, mounted for reciprocal movement in sleeve 21. Guideway 27 is preferably enlarged at its ends, as indicated at 27', to facilitate initially threading the tape through the guideway.

Polyester materials such as herein used for reinforcing patches, is extremely difficult to cut with a conventional blanking punch and die largely because of its extreme thinness and toughness. This is particularly true when the tape is coated on one side with an adhesive. When so coated, portions of the adhesive may tend to squeeze [it between the wall of the die opening and the periphery of the punch and ultimately interfere with thevoperation of the machine.

To minimize this difiiculty means is provided for preventing the adhesive from accumulating on the periphery of the blanking punch and also to assure that the reinforcing patches will be cleanly cut or blanked from the strip of tape. To accomplish the above, punch 28 is provided at its lowermost end with a narrow land C, formed by cutting away a portion of the periphery of the punch to provide a tapered relief portion R directly above the land C. The land C is normally positioned in the lowermost end of the bore in the guide member 24, directly above the tape in guideway 27. The blanking stroke of punch 28 is very short, and the vertical width of the tapered relief portion R of the punch is such that when the punch is at the extreme bottom of its stroke, only the land C comes incontact with the blanking die 17. When land C is retracted from die 17, following each blanking operation, it is drawn into the bore in the Teflon guide member 24 whereby the periphery of the land C is wiped clean of any adhesive by the wiping action of the Teflon member 24, thereby keeping the punch free of any adhesive from the tape to insure uninterrupted operation of the machine.

To further facilitate blanking the reinforcing patches from the tape, the lower portion of the bore in the blanking die 17 is tapered slightly in a downward and outward direction from its cutting edge T, as clearly indicated at S in FIGURE 8, whereby the cutting edge T is the only part of punch 28 that actually contacts the land C of the punch. It is to be understood that the diameter of the cutting edge T snugly fits the diameter of the land C of the punch 28 so that a clean cut of the tape is assured each time the punch pierces or blanks the reinforcing patch from the tape.

From actual experience it has been found that by initially making the hole in the blanking die cylindrical and then lapping the lower portion of the bore to provide a very slight taper in the bore and in addition lapping the bottom end of the punch the cutting edges resulting from such lapping produces a very clean accurate cut in the tape and the danger of adhesives adhering to the punch and die is substantially eliminated.

The above described construction provides an important part of the present invention in that it assures uninterrupted operation of the machine under normal operating conditions, because of the unique construction of the cutting edges of the punch and blanking die whereby the reinforcing patches are cleanly cut from the tape and adhesive from the tape is not likely to accumulate on the surfaces of the punch and die.

Mounted within the tubular blanking punch 28 is a piercing punch 29 which cooperates with the piercing die 14 to simultaneously pierce the reinforcing patches or disks 10' and the ring book sheet to which the patches are applied. The piercing punch 29 has its lower end portion guidingly supported in a tetrafluoroethylene guide element 31 having an annular exterior shoulder 29' adjacent its lower end portion seated against an inwardly directed annular shoulder 32 provided at the lower end of the bore in the blanking punch 28. A collar is secured to the piercing punch 29 within the tubular blanking punch 28, as shown in FIGURES l and 8. The lower end of collar 30 is spaced upwardly from the upper end of guide element 31 to receive between it and guide element 31, a compressible element 33 which is adapted to be compressed during operation of the punch and die assembly, as will subsequently be described.

Secured to the upper end portion of the shank of the piercing punch 29, above the tubular guide sleeve 21, is a head 35 having an outwardly extending annular flange 36 providing an annular downwardly facing seat for the upper end ofa spring 37. The opposite end of spring 37 is seated against the top face of supporting block 18, as clearly illustrated in FIGURES l, 3, 5 and 8. Head 35 is secured to the shank of the piercing punch 2? by such means as a pin 33.

A relatively smaller spring 39 has its lower end seated against the upper end of head 35 and extends upwardly into a tubular operating member 41, slidably received in a guide 42 shown integrally formed with a rear wall 5 of the base 2, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2. The upper end of spring 39 is shown seated against a pin .3 fixed to the cylindrical wall of the tubular operating member 41. A suitable hand grip or knob 44 is secured to the upper end of operating member 41. The bottom face of plate 17 is relieved, as shown at 45 in FIG- URE 3, to provide a guideway as for receiving the marginal edge portion 47 of a ring book sheet 43, as will be understood by reference to FIGURES 3 and 4.

The tape supply roll, generally designated by the numeral 41 comprises a cylindrical core 51 adapted to be titted onto a tape supply wheel 52 rotatably mounted on the projecting end portion of the horizontal stud 53. Stud 53 has its rear end portion fixedly secured to the rear wall 5 of the machine frame by suitable means, such as indicated 54 in FEGURE 2. Retaining clips 55 and 55 are secured to the front face of the tape supply wheel 52 by such means as screws 57 and 58, respectively. Screws 57 and 53 are received in threaded engagement with the wheel 52 and traverse elongated slots 59 and 61 in clips 55 and 56, whereby the clips may be longitudinally moved on wheel 52 to permit the tape roll 49 to be mounted upon or removed from the wheel, as will be understood. Conversely, when the clips are slid inwardly toward the axis of the wheel '52, the flanged ends of the clips are positioned within the periphery of the wheel, thereby permitting free removal of the tape roll from the wheel, or the mounting of a fresh roll thereon.

Means is provided at the opposite end of the machine for taking up the waste end portion of the reinforcing tape 1%, and comprises a tape take-up wheel 62, similar in general construction to the tape supply wheel 52 at the opposite end or" the machine. Wheel 62 is rotatably mounted on a stud 63 secured to the machine frame, and clips 55 and 56 are secured thereto by screws 57, similar to those used in connection with the tape supply wheel 52.

To retain the tape supporting wheels 52 and 62 on their respective studs 5'3 and 63, each stud is provided at its outer end with an annular groove 64, indicated in dotted lines in FEGURE 1, adapted to receive the restricted end portions 65 of bayonet slots 66, provided in clips 55, when said clips are in locking engagement with their respective studs 53 and 63, as shown in full lines in FIG- URES l and 5.

The reinforcing tape is progressively fed to the die block assembly by intermittent rotation of the tape takeup roll or wheel 62. To thus intermittently rotate wheel 62., a ratchet wheel 67 is shown secured to the hub 68 of wheel 62 by suitable screws 69. An elongated member 71 is mounted for reciprocal movement in a recess 72 provided in the front face of wall 5 of the machine frame. A resilient latch 73 is secured to one end of member 71 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 67, upon reciprocal movement of member 71.

The leongated member 71 is actuated in timed relation to the movement of the operating member 41, by means of a bell crank 74 pivoted on a stud 75 secured to the rear wall 5 of the machine frame. One arm of bell crank 74 is forked as shown at 76, to receive a pin 77 secured to the elongated member 71. The rear end portion 78 of stud 77 extends into a recess 79 in the rear wall 5. A spring 81 is supported in recess 79 and has one end engaging pin 78. The opposite end of spring 31 is seated against the right hand end of recess 79. See FIGURE 2. Spring 81 constantly urges bell crank 74 to the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 5, as when the punches 6 are depressed by downward movement of the operating member 41.

The means for actuating the bell crank 71 comprises a collar 82 secured to the lower end of the tubular operating member 41, best shown in FIGURES 1 and 5. Bell crank 71 carries a pin 83 in its horizontal arm which extends into the path of the collar 32 secured to the lower end of operating member 41, whereby when the operating memher is moved upwardly by the action of spring 39, the bell crank is moved from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to that shown in FIGURE 1. Such actuation of the bell crank shifts slide 71 to the position shown in FIGURE 1, whereby spring latch 73 moves into engagement with ratchet wheel 67 and advances it a portion of a revolution to thereby actuate the tape take-up roll 62 secured thereto.

Means is provided for limiting the rotary movement of the ratchet wheel 67 upon each return movement of the operating member 41. Such means is shown comprising an upright elongated member 84- mounted for sliding movement in a recess provided in the rear wall 5 of the machine frame. The upper end of member 84 has an inclined abutment edge 85 adapted to be engaged by a correspondingly inclined end portion 86 of the ratchet operating member 71. Member 34 carries at its lower end a roller '87 constantly retained in engagement with the periphery of the tape take-up roll by a spring 88, mounted in a recess 89 in the rear wall 5. One end of spring 88 engages the bottom wall of recess 89 and its opposite or upper end engages a rear- Wardly directed lug 91 provided on member 84. The abutment edge 85' of member 84 cooperates with the inclined end 86 of the ratchet slide 71 to assure that the feeding movement of the tape to the die block assembly Will be uniform for each cycle of operation, regardless of the diameter of the tape take-up roll.

Thus, when the operating member 41 is depressed, spring 81 causes member 71 to move to the position shown in FIGURE 5, whereby the left hand end of member 71 will engage the end of recess 72, thereby limiting movement of member 71 in that direction. The rotary movement of the tape take-up wheel 72 is thus determined by the effective spacing provided between the right hand end of member 71 and the inclined abutment face of member 84. The spacing is automatically controlled by the diamcter of the tape take-up roll as a result of the roller 87 engaging the periphery of the tape take-up roll, as shown.

In other words, when the machine is initially started, and the tape take-up roll is at minimum diameter, slide 84 will be at the limit of its upper movement, whereby maximum spacing is provided between the inclined end of the horizontal slide 71 and the inclined abutment edge 85, of member '84, as will be understood. As the tape take-up roll gradually increases in size, slide 84 gradually moves downwardly by reason of roll 87 engaging the periphery of the gradually enlarging diameter of the tape take-up roll, whereby the spacing between the end of slide 71 and the abutment face 85 progressively decreases, thereby automatically maintaining uniform feeding travel of the tape during each cycle of operation.

Means is provided for aligning the ring book sheet in the machine to assure accurate placement of the reinforcing patches on each sheet. To provide adequate support for the ring book sheets in the application of the reinforcing patches thereto, an extension base 88 is shown pivotally connected to the front end of base 2 of the machine by suitable pivots 89, shown secured to the ends of the machine frame, adapted to be received in apertured lugs 91 indicated in FIGURE 2. The extension base 88 may be swung outwardly, as indicated in FIGURE 4, and utilized as a support for the ring book sheets. When not in use it may be swung upwardly to an upright out-of-way position.

To accurately align the ring book sheet in the machine with respect to the die block assembly, stop elements 92, 93 and 94 are adjustably mounted on the machine base, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2. Element 92 has an elongated body 95 mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the base by screw 96. Stop 92 is adapted to engage the edge 97 of the ring book sheet 43 adjacent the forward left hand corner thereof to accurately position the sheet relative to the die block assembly. Stop 93 is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly by manipulation of a screw 98, and cooperates with a stop 94 at the right hand end of the machine to limit the forward movement of the ring book sheet into the machine, when it is positioned therein to receive a reinforcing patch. Stop 94 is similarly adjustable by manipulation of an adjusting screw 99 shown in FIGURE 2.

In the operation of the machine, a full roll of pressure sensitive tape is mounted on wheel 52. One end portion of the tape of said roll is then threaded through the passageway 27 in the die block assembly with its gummed side facing downwardly. The free end of the tape is then pressed firmly against the periphery of the core 40, mounted on the tape take-up wheel 62, whereby the pressure sensitive surface of the tape will adhere to the periphery of the core 4%] on the tape take-up wheel, whereby the tape is intermittently fed from the supply roll 49 to the tape take-up wheel 62 each time the operating member 41 is actuated.

The tape supply roll 49 is prevented from overrunning by the tacky nature of the tape as it is drawn from the supply roll 49, as will be understood by reference to FIGURES 1 and 5.

When the tape has thus been threaded through the machine, the machine is ready for operation. To apply a reinforcing patch to a ring book sheet the latter is placed on the machine frame with its left hand edge engaging stop 92, and its forward edge engaging the positioning stops 93 and 94. The operator then strikes the hand engaging member 44 with the palm of his hand whereupon the tubular operating member 41 is moved downwardly in guide 42, causing spring 39 to compress until the lower end of member 41 engages the flange 36 of head 35, as indicated in FIGURE 5. Continued downward movement of member 41 then causes head 35 to move downwardly against the compression of spring 37, until the bottom end of head 35 engages the upper end of the guide sleeve 21.

During the initial movement of the piercing punch 29 the blanking punch is moved downwardly simultaneously therewith because of its connection with the collar 30 through the compressible element 33, which has sufficient resistance to cause the blanking punch to punch a blank from the tape and press it firmly against the top surface of the ring book sheet 48, as shown in FIGURE 5. When the blank has thus been positioned upon the ring book sheet, further downward movement of the blanking punch 28 is interrupted because of the reinforcing patch being seated on the ring book sheet. The compressible element 33 is then compressed from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to that shown in IGURE 5, to allow the piercing punch 29 to continue and pierce the blank and the ring book sheet.

It will thus be seen that the operation of blanking the patch from a strip of tape, applying the patch to the ring book sheet, and piercing the patch and the ring book sheet, is accomplished by a single manipulation of the operating member 44. When the operator removes his hand from the handle member 44 the operating member is returned to its normal position by the action of springs 37 and 39. During the return movement of the operating member 44, the ratchet operating mechanism is actuated by means of the bell crank 74 to automatically advance the tape to the die block assembly for the next operation. Also of importance in the construction of the novel machine herein disclosed, are the Teflon guide members 31 and 28". These members are bored to snugly fit the diameter of the piercing die 29 whereby the piercing punch will accurately enter the piercing die 14. The Teflon guide members 31 and 28" may be lubricated with a suitable silicon lubricant from the upper end of guide sleeve 21.

In the machine herein disclosed, when two patches are to be applied to a ring book sheet as shown, for example, in FIGURE 6, the one at the upper left hand corner may first be applied by insertion of the corner of the sheet into the die block assembly. The sheet is then withdrawn from the die assembly and reversed, or turned up-side-down, to permit insertion of the opposite corner of the sheet into the die block assembly, after which the operating member '41 is again operated to apply a reinforcing patch to the opposite corner of the ring book sheet, as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The novel machine herein disclosed has been found extremely etficient and practical in actual operation. Operation of the single operating member 41 effects actuation of the blanking and piercing dies, presses the reinforcing patch into bonding engagement with the sheet, and simultaneously advances the tape in the die block assembly for the next patch. The construction of the machine and its operation are also extremely simple, whereby the machine may readily be operated by an unskilled person.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of the'invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for punching blanks from pressure sensitive tape, a base, a die block assembly secured to said base including an upright guide sleeve, a die located in said die block assembly, a punch mounted for axial up and down movement with respect to said die from a first normal position to a second punching position, said punch being provided with an annular recess forming a narrow annular land adjacent a bottom surface or" said punch facing said die, a wiper member having a recess therein, said wiper member being fixedly attached to said guide sleeve and positioned between said guide sleeve and said die, said wiper member being of dimension to snugly fit said annular land of said punch, a wick positioned in said recess in said wiper, said wick being impregnated with a silicon lubricant, means for guiding a strip of said pressure sensitive tape across the bottom end of said wiper member, said bottom surface of said punch being spaced upwardly from the bottom of said wiper member when said punch is in its first normal position, said wiper being made of material having the properties of tetrafluoroethylene, and means for actuating said punch to cause it to blank a patch from said tape.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said strip of pressure sensitive tape is maintained contiguous with the bottom surfaces of said wiper member as said tape is moved across said member.

3. In a machine for blanking patches from polyester backed pressure sensitive tape, a base, a die block assembly secured to said base including an upright guide sleeve, a die located in said die block assembly, a first punch mounted for axial movement with respect to said die and movable to and from a first normal position spaced from said die, said first punch being provided with an annular recess forming a narrow annular land adjacent the bottom surface of said punch facing said die, a wiper member fixedly attached to said guide sleeve posttioned between said guide sleeve and said die, said wiper member being of dimension to snugly fit said annular land of said first punch, means for guiding a strip of said pressure sensitive tape across and normally in contact with the bottom end of said wiper member, Said bottom surface of said first punch being spaced upwardly from the bottom of said wiper member when said first punch is in its first normal position, said wiper member being made of material having the adhesive resisting properties of tetrafiuoroethylene, means for supporting a piece of sheet material on a side of said die opposite from said first punch, and means for actuating said first punch to c use it to cooperate with said die to blank a reinforcing patch from said tape and extend through said die to subsequently press said patch into bonding engagement with a surface of the sheet material, the annular recess of said punch being of sufiicient length so that when said first punch is in position to press said patch onto the surface of said sheet material the outer surfaces of said first punch do not contact said polyester backed pressure sensitive tape.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein a second is and punch are provided for piercing said reinforcing patch and said sheet material simultaneously as the remfo cing patch is pressed into bonding engagement with the sheet material by said first punch.

5. A machine accor ing to claim 3, wherein an operating member is provided for actuating said first punch to blank a reinforcing patch from said tape, and a takeup roll is provided for receiving the pierced portion of the tape, take-up roll being intermittently actuated by movement of the operating member.

6. A machine for punching blanks from polyester backed pressure sensitive tape, bonding said blanks onto a ring book sheet and piercing said blank and sheet simultaneously, said machine including a base, a die block assembly secured to said base including an upright guide sleeve, a die located in said die block assembly, a blanking punch mounted for axial movement with respect to said die and movable to and from a first normal position spaced from said die, said blanking punch being provided with an annular recess forming a narrow annular land adjacent a bottom surface of said blanking punch facing said die, a wiper member fixedly attached to said guide sleeve and positioned between said guide sleeve and die, said wiper member being of dimension to snugly fit said annular land of said blanking punch, means for guiding a strip of said polyester backed tape across and in contact with the bottom end of said Wiper member, said bottom surface of said blanking punch eing spaced upwardly from the bottom of said wiper member when said punch is in its first normal position, said Wiper member behng made of material having the adhesive resisting properties of tetrafiuoroethylene, said wiper member having an annular recess therein positioned above said narrow land of said blanking punch in said normal position, an annular wick in said recess, said wick being impregnated with a silicon lubricant to lubricate said blanking punch, means for supporting a ring book sheet on a side of said die opposite from said blanking punch, a piercing punch concentric with said blanking punch, a piercing die mounted in said die block assembly and axially alined with said piercing punch and positioned below said ring book sheet, an upright operating member for manually actuating said blanking punch to cause said punch to cooperate with said blanking die to punch a reinforcing patch from said tape and to extend through said die to press said patch into bonding engagement with a surface of said ring book sheet, and subsequently to actuate said piercing punch to cooperate with said piercing die and simultaneously pierce said ring book sheet and said patch bonded thereto, a takeup roll mounted on said base for receiving the pressure sensitive tape after the patches have been punched therefrom, and bias means for returning said operating member to its normal position, said bias means being operative to actuate said takeup roll when said operating member moves to its normal position.

7. In a machine according to claim 6, wherein ratchet means are provided for intermittently acuating the tape take-up roll to advance the tape to the punch and die, said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel non-rotatably secured to the take-up roll, an elongated member mounted for reciprocal movement and having one end engaged with the rat het wheel, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of said elongated member to said upright operating member.

8. A machine for punch patches from polyester plastic reinforcing tape, a base, die block assembly secured to said base including an upright guide sleeve, a blanking die located in said die block assembly, a blarliing punch mounted for axial up down movement with resp t to said die movable to g and piercing nom a first normal position, said blanking punch being provided with an annular recess forming a narrow annular land adjacent a bottom surface or" said blankin punch facing said blankie, said blanking relieved to form a narrow land adjacent the top thereof, a wiper member fixedly attached to said guide sleeve and positioned between said guide sleeve and said blanldng die, said wiper member being of dimension to snugly fit said annular land of said punch, means for supporting a ring book sheet on a side of said blanking die opposite from said blanking punch, a piercing punch slidably mounted wit. respect to and concentric with said punch, a piercing die mounted with respect to said die block assembly and positioned below said ring book sheet, means for guiding a strip or said plastic reinforcing tape across and normally in con-- tact with a bottom end of said wiper member, said bottom surface of said blanldng punch being spaced upwardly from the bottom or" said wiper member when said blanking punch is in its first normal position, said wiper member being made of material having the adhesive resisting properties of tetrafiuoroethylene, a compressable element mounted between said blanking punch and said piercing punch, and manually operable means for actuating said blanking punch whereby said blanking punch is initially moved into position to cooperate with said blanking die and punch a reinforcing patch from said tape and subsequently move said patch into bonding engagement with said ring book sheet, after which said compressable element is compressed to permit the piercing die to move axially with respect to said blanking die and cooperate with said piercing punch to pierce said patch and said ring book sheet.

9. The combination as specified in claim 8, wherein the annular relief is of suificient axial length so that the outer surface of said punch does not contact the edge of the hole punched in said tape when said patch is pressed into bonding engagement with said ring book sheet.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PUNCHING BLANKS FROM PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE, A BASE, A DIE BLOCK ASSEMBLY SECURED TO SAID BASE INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT GUIDE SLEEVE, A DIE LOCATED IN SAID DIE BLOCK ASSEMBLY, A PUNCH MOUNTED FOR AXIAL UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID DIE FROM A FIRST NORMAL POSITION TO A SECOND PUNCHING POSITION, SAID PUNCH BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR RECESS FORMING A NARROW ANNULAR LAND ADJACENT A BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID PUNCH FACING SAID DIE, A WIPER MEMBER HAVING A RECESS THEREIN, SAID WIPER MEMBER BEING FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID GUIDE SLEEVE AND POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID GUIDE SLEEVE AND SAID DIE, SAID WIPER MEMBER BEING OF DIMENSION TO SNUGLY FIT SAID ANNULAR LAND OF SAID PUNCH, A WICK POSITIONED IN SAID RECESS IN SAID WIPE, SAID WICK BEING IMPREGNATED WITH A SILICON LUBRICANT, MEANS FOR GUIDING A STRIP OF SAID PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE ACROSS THE BOTTOM END OF SAID WIPER MEMBER, SAID BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID PUNCH BEING SPACED UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID WIPER MEMBER WHEN SAID PUNCH IS IN ITS FIRST NORMAL POSITION, SAID WIPER BEING MADE OF MATERIAL HAVING THE PROPERTIES OF TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID PUNCH TO CAUSE IT TO BLANK A PATCH FROM SAID TAPE. 